Drive shaft options for SOA and RS?

[JustJoshin]

Good morning BP,
I am in the midst of a spring over and RS with SII axles on my 800 and am beginning to think ahead to the drive shaft phase of the project.

I would rather not buy a custom one, especially since it is the front and wont be used all the time.

Junkyard options? I read something about a bronco CV shaft?

Or lengthen mine? But then I would be worried about the slip yoke being a little short....

About to strart the cut and turn and need a game plan for my pinion angle.

I would love some input!

Thanks!

[Mark Ashford]

Pinion angle is no question. Point it at the t-case, otherwise you'll get binding.

You'll need a long-travel spline. Whether you find a good candidate in the junk-yard, make your own out of PTO shaft or Square tube, or pay for one is up to you.


Finish your SOA, flex the rig up as much as you can and take measurements flexed every way you can. Then add a couple inches each way. Bias it more for compression that extension. Pulling a drivshaft apart is MUCH better than driving the t-case off the back of the transmission.

I made a beefy one from 23-spline PTO shaft before. Tons of travel but heavy. If your cheap Square Tube works, add some UHMW strips and its even better. But really, buying a shaft from someplace like High Angle Driveshafts isn't all that expensive. I got a quote from him before to build me a new shaft from scratch cheaper than getting and "stock" shaft extended locally.

There's also Tom Woods whole makes very good shafts, but can be $$.

[Comanche Scott]

I had read the same thing about using an '80s full size Bronco driveshaft. Might be worth a PM to the guy who did that, and see if his specs match yours.
If it works, post it up with some pics. Would be a cheap alternative.

[Tom Mandera]

For my Scout II with SOA and RS, I wound up with a 14" slip driveshaft from Tom Woods. It was ~$450.

I tried to make a "normal" long-travel shaft work for a while, but it just wasn't happening. That one was $260-ish IIRC, and it cost me several Dana 20s and adapters, along with a lot of rebuilding the driveshaft (and shortening, trying to keep it from poking the Dana 20 off the 727).. the $450 would've been cheaper out of the box..

[JustJoshin]

Cool! Good to know on the pinion angle. I thought you had to have a CV shaft to point it otherwise you wanted equal and opposite....

The PTO spline sounds like an interesting option. As does the the square tubing. Its the front so that might be a very viable option for me. Might just be worth it to do it right the first time however and order one.

Thanks again!

Oh and one more quick question, do broncos also use a 1310 U joint?